Man charged over deadly Gippsland fire

An elderly man has been charged in relation to igniting the Aberfeldy fire in Victoria's east.

The ferocious blaze, which has killed one man and destroyed at least 21 homes, began two weeks ago and has grown to more than 75,000 hectares.

Arson and Explosive Squad detectives charged a 75-year-old man on Wednesday morning with five offences, including recklessly causing a bushfire and causing a fire to be lit without written authority in a fire protected area.

He is set to face Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.